Alex Zimmerman is Sentinel Hockey Player of the Year

Wednesday

Mar 19, 2014 at 5:29 PMMar 19, 2014 at 5:29 PM

By Michael.Appelgate@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4271

Calling a player of any sport dominant is subjective to how one evaluates competition and their ability.In the scope of the season West Ottawa’s Alex Zimmerman had, that just might be the correct term to use.The senior hockey player scored 35 goals in 24 games and also tallied 17 assists. He led the Panthers to a 17-8 record this season and is The Holland Sentinel’s Hockey Player of the Year.In nearly every game, Zimmerman found the back of the net multiple times."It is not everyday that a coach has the opportunity to work with a player of his caliber," West Ottawa coach Nick Biondo said. "He was a dominate force on the ice, and when he wanted to, Alex could single handedly take over a game."It’s no doubt his efforts were important in turning the Panthers program around after a 6-18 finish last year. The growth of the team showed this season as West Ottawa downed Jenison – one of the top teams in Western Michigan – 3-2 in overtime.Zimmerman scored the goal in in the extra period for the win."In the first game with Jenison, we got smoked 8-0 and one of their better kids swam (on the ice) after he scored like his fifth goal," Zimmerman said. "And I was on the bench in overtime and I said, ‘Coach put me back out there. I’m going to score and then I’m going to swim.’"Zimmerman thrives in the contact sports. He was one of the West Ottawa football team’s biggest threats on offense at wide receiver last season and will attend Hillsdale College next fall to play at the defensive back position. In the spring, he plays lacrosse."I guess it can relieve stress and it’s just fun," Zimmerman said. "I just love everything about them. … I love tackling and I love beating people up. It’s just fun."He made a couple of late-game touchdown catches last fall in football to earn his way onto The Sentinel’s all-area football team."I just want to excel in everything I do and push myself to be the best I can be," Zimmerman said. "I love the pressure. I don’t really think about it too much. I just go out there and do what I’m able to do."He won’t play hockey again as his focus will turn solely to football. But at least in his final season on the ice, he got a chance to play on the same line as his sophomore brother, Jake."I wish we could have played for more years together. This year was the first time we got to play together, and we meshed pretty well," Alex Zimmerman said.What might be the most important contribution he made to West Ottawa is setting a standard for future.Of course, it might be a little bit difficult to duplicate the production and presence he had this season."It’s awesome to be at the start of this," Zimmerman said. "These couple of teams will be the building blocks of the program and it feels good to be a part of that. Hopefully, I leave a mark that players can hope to be the best they can be."